GUIDE TO R&D FUNDING DATA-
FY 2006 R&D

Current Headlines

Congress Finishes FY 2006 Appropriations, Caps a Disappointing Year for R&D Funding

On December 30, nearly three months into the fiscal year, President Bush signed the last two FY 2006 appropriations bills into law, bringing the FY 2006 appropriations process to a close. AAAS estimates that the federal R&D portfolio totals $134.8 billion in 2006, a $2.2 billion or 1.7 percent increase. But 97 percent of the increase goes to just two areas: defense weapons development and human space exploration technologies. Funding for all other federal R&D programs collectively will barely increase, and will fall nearly 2 percent after adjusting for inflation. Leaving out large federal investments in development, congressional appropriations for basic and applied research total $57.0 billion, an increase of $1.0 billion or 1.8 percent over 2005. But NASA applied research on human space flight technologies accounts for a majority of the increase, leaving most agency research portfolios with modest increases falling short of inflation, or cuts.

Many flagship federal science agencies have disappointing budgets in 2006: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget falls for the first time in 36 years; the National Science Foundation (NSF) wins a small increase but has less in real terms for its research portfolio than in any of the last three years; the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science budget declines, and despite big increases in development funding the Department of Defense (DOD)’s basic research funding declines.

For several measures of the federal R&D investment, final FY 2006 appropriations represent another year on a downward slope from the highs of a few years ago. For trend after trend, big increases leading up to 2003 flattened out more recently, and now funding is headed down in real terms.

Details of final FY 2006 appropriations of R&D are now available in the FY 2006 appropriations wrap-up, a preview of the AAAS publication Congressional Action on R&D in the FY 2006 Budget.

AAAS R&D Funding Updates on final FY 2006 R&D appropriations are also available on the AAAS R&D web site for the 12 top R&D funding agencies. For details of the FY 2007 budget, including revised estimates for FY 2006, see the FY 2007 R&D page.

- updated January 6, 2006

Agency Updates for FY 2006 congressional appropriations

FY 2006 Final Appropriations - Jan. 4 "Congress Caps Another Disappointing Year for R&D Funding in 2006 (HTML)" (A Preview of Congressional Action on R&D in the FY 2006 Budget) (PDF version - 13pp) This report is a summary of AAAS estimates and analyses of final FY 2006 appropriations bills. This report is a preview of the AAAS publication Congressional Action on R&D in the FY 2006 Budget (below). Individual agency analyses are also available (below). Tables of final FY 2006 appropriations (PDF): Complete set of 20 agency funding tables (20pp; PDF) Table 1. Total R&D by Agency Table 2. Estimated Research by Agency Table 3. Major Functional Categories of R&D - Table. U.S. Department of Agriculture R&D - Table. Department of Commerce R&D - Table A. Department of Defense by Program - Table B. Department of Defense by Agency - Table C. Department of Defense S&T - Table. Department of Energy R&D - Table 1. National Institutes of Health R&D - Table 2. Department of Health and Human Services R&D - Table. Department of Homeland Security R&D - Table. Department of the Interior R&D - Table. Department of Transportation R&D - Table. Department of Veterans Affairs R&D - Table. Environmental Protection Agency R&D - Table. National Aeronautics and Space Administration R&D - Table. National Science Foundation R&D Table A. "FS&T" Budget by Agency Table B. R&D Earmarks by Agency Special Report on R&D Earmarks (Jan. 4) - "R&D Earmarks Hit New Record of $2.4 Billion, Up 13 Percent" (PDF) - - (HTML version) - -Individual agency analyses of final FY 2006 appropriations: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Dec. 28 - "USDA R&D Falls Slightly in Final 2006 Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Dept. of Commerce Dec. 29 -"Commerce R&D Falls in 2006, ATP Survives Another Year (PDF)"- (HTML version) Dept. of Defense Dec. 19 - "Congress Finalizes $13.8 Billion for DOD S&T, Big Increases for Development (PDF)"- (HTML version) Dept. of Energy Dec. 28 - "DOE Science Funding Falls in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) Dept. of Homeland Security Dec. 29 - "DHS Receives Modest R&D Boost in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) Dept. of the Interior Dec. 28- "USGS Gains in Final Interior Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Dept. of Transportation Dec. 29 - "Transportation R&D Surges to Record High in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) Dept. of Veterans Affairs Nov. 22 - "VA R&D Rises in Final 2006 Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Environmental Protection Agency Dec. 28 - "EPA R&D Flat in Final Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dec. 29 - "NASA Space Exploration R&D Climbs, Other R&D Programs Fall (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Institutes of Health Dec. 22 - "NIH Budget Falls for the First Time in 36 Years (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Science Foundation Dec. 22 - "Modest Increase Leaves NSF Below Earlier Budgets (PDF)" - (HTML version) Supplemental Tables and Full-Color Charts (PDF): Historical Table 1. Federal R&D by Agency, 1976-2006 (current dollars) Historical Table 2. Federal R&D by Agency, 1976-2006 (CONSTANT FY 2005 dollars) Chart. Trends in Federal R&D, FY 1976-2006 (Figure 1) Chart. FY 2006 R&D Appropriations (Final vs. Request) (Figure 2) Chart. Trends in Federal R&D as % of GDP, FY 1976-2006 (Figure 6) Chart. Trends in Nondefense R&D, FY 1976-2006 (Figure 4) Chart. Trends in Defense R&D, FY 1976-2006 (Figure 3) - ( Data Table ) Chart. Trends in DOD S&T, FY 1994-2006 - ( Data Table ) Chart. Trends in Research, FY 1995-2006 (Figure 5) - ( Data Table ) Chart. Trends in Basic Research, FY 1975-2006 - ( Data Table ) Chart. Trends in Federal R&D, FY 1990-2006 (DOD, NIH, NASA, NSF, DOE) (Figure 7) Chart. Trends in Federal R&D, FY 1990-2006 (USDA, DOC, DOI, DOT, EPA) Chart. R&D Earmarks in Appropriations, FY 2002-2006 Chart. Trends in Federal Research by Discipline, 1970-2004 - ( Data Table ) Chart. Defense and Nondefense R&D by Character of Work, FY 2006 Final Chart. FY 2006 R&D by Function The complete book is now available on line. Congressional Action on R&D in the FY 2006 Budget January 6, 2006 - Full Text On Line Our annual report on final FY 2006 appropriations for R&D in the federal budget is now available. The full text of the 48-page report, including 20 tables, is available. This publication provides a wrap-up analysis of R&D in the President's budget for FY 2006, including major funding trends and details on the FY 2006 budgets of the major R&D funding agencies. A 13-page summary containing highlights from this book is available as a Preview Report. For more information on R&D in the FY 2006 budget, see the FY 2006 R&D page. Table. FINAL Status of FY 2006 Appropriations Bills (January 4) Below are analyses from earlier in 2005, with details of R&D in earlier stages of the FY 2006 budget and appropriations process. November 30 - November Status Report on R&D in FY 2006 Appropriations "Congress Races to Finish FY 2006 Appropriations, Adds Funds for R&D Programs" (HTML) (PDF version) This 8-page analysis is a progress report on FY 2006 appropriations. Detailed information on R&D in the FY 2006 budget can be found below. Table 1. Total R&D by Agency (as of Nov. 28, 2005) Table 2. Estimated Research by Agency (as of Nov. 28, 2005) Table A. Congressional Earmarks for R&D by Agency and Program (as of Nov. 28, 2005) October 4 - October Status Report on R&D in FY 2006 Appropriations "Federal R&D Funding Stalls in Delayed 2006 Budget" (HTML) (PDF version) August 4 - August Status Report on R&D in FY 2006 Appropriations "Congress Adds Funds to Federal R&D Before August Break" (HTML) (PDF version) July 7 - July Status Report on R&D in FY 2006 Appropriations "Congress Boosts Defense S&T and DOE Office of Science, Provides Flat or Declining Funding for Most R&D Programs " (HTML) - (PDF version) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FINAL Dec. 28 - "USDA R&D Falls Slightly in Final 2006 Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Oct. 31 - "Congress Adds Earmarks to Give USDA Flat R&D Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 30 - "USDA R&D Sustained by Senate Earmarks (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 7 - "House Retains Formula Funds, Boosts USDA Competitive Grants (PDF)" - (HTML version) Department of Commerce (DOC) FINAL Dec. 29 -"Commerce R&D Falls in 2006, ATP Survives Another Year (PDF)"- (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 9 -"Congress Finalizes Flat Commerce R&D Budget, Preserves ATP (PDF)"- (HTML version) Senate June 29 -"Senate Boosts NOAA and NIST R&D, Sustains ATP and MEP (PDF)"- (HTML version) House June 14 -"House Slashes NOAA R&D, Eliminates ATP (PDF)"- (HTML version) Department of Defense (DOD) House-Senate Conference and FINAL December 19 - "Congress Finalizes $13.8 Billion for DOD S&T, Big Increases for Development (PDF)"- (HTML version) Senate September 30 updated Oct. 13 - "Senate Moderates Proposed DOD Research Cuts (PDF)"- (HTML version) House June 16 - "House Boosts DOD S&T Above $13 Billion, Provides Record R&D Budget (PDF)"- (HTML version) Department of Energy (DOE) FINAL Dec. 28 - "DOE Science Funding Falls in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 10 - "Flat Office of Science Funding in Final DOE Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Authorization August 3 - "Energy Bill Sets Ambitious Targets for DOE R&D (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 20 - "Senate Boosts DOE Office of Science Facilities and Fusion Funding (PDF)"- (HTML version) House June 3 - "House Boosts DOE Office of Science Funding (PDF)"- (HTML version) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FINAL December 29 - "DHS Receives Modest R&D Boost in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference September 30 - "DHS Receives Modest R&D Boost in Final 2006 Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 20 - "Senate Slows Growth in DHS R&D (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 3 - "House Approves Small Increase for DHS R&D (PDF)" - (HTML version) Department of the Interior (DOI) FINAL Dec. 28- "USGS Gains in Final Interior Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference July 28- "USGS Gains in Final Interior Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 17 - "Senate Offers Modest Increase to USGS R&D (PDF)" - (HTML version) House May 12 - "House Proposes Small Boost for USGS R&D (PDF)"- (HTML version) Department of Transportation (DOT) FINAL Dec. 29 - "Transportation R&D Surges to Record High in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 22 - "Transportation R&D Surges to Record High in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate July 28 - "Flat Funding for DOT R&D in Senate Plan (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 30 - "Transportation R&D Funding Declines in House (PDF)" - (HTML version) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) House-Senate Conference and FINAL Nov. 22 - "VA R&D Rises in Final 2006 Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate July 25 - "Senate Adds to VA Medical Research (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 3 - "VA R&D Stays Flat in House Bill (PDF)" - (HTML version) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FINAL Dec. 28 - "EPA R&D Flat in Final Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference July 28 - "EPA R&D Gains Slightly in Final Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 17 - "Senate Cuts EPA R&D (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 3 - "EPA R&D Gains Slightly in House Plan (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) FINAL Dec. 29 - "NASA Space Exploration R&D Climbs, Other R&D Programs Fall (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 9 - "NASA R&D on Future Space Vehicles Climbs (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 29 - "Senate Boosts NASA R&D, Funds Hubble Mission (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 14 - "House Boosts NASA R&D 5 Percent (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Institutes of Health (NIH) FINAL Dec. 22 - "NIH Budget Falls for the First Time in 36 Years (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 17 (revised Dec. 13) - "Congress Tries Again on a Final NIH Budget (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate July 15 - "Senate Proposes $1 Billion Increase for NIH (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 21 - "House Agrees to Small Increase for NIH (PDF)" - (HTML version) National Science Foundation (NSF) FINAL Dec. 22 - "Modest Increase Leaves NSF Below Earlier Budgets (PDF)" - (HTML version) House-Senate Conference Nov. 9 - "NSF Wins Modest Increase in 2006 (PDF)" - (HTML version) Senate June 29 - "Senate Offers Modest Increase for NSF (PDF)" - (HTML version) House June 14 - "NSF Gets Small Budget Boost from House (PDF)" - (HTML version) Special Updates: November 3 - R&D Earmarks - "Congress Piles On R&D Earmarks in 2006 Appropriations" (PDF) - (HTML version) August 7 - R&D Earmarks - "House Restrains Earmarking, but Senate Goes Full Speed" (PDF) - (HTML version) May 6 - "FY 2006 Appropriations Process Begins in Congress (PDF)"

R&D in the FY 2006 Budget Request

The complete book is now available on line.	AAAS Report XXX: Research and Development FY 2006 April 12, 2005 - Full Text On Line Our annual report on R&D in the federal budget is now available on line. The full text of the 290-page report, including nearly 40 tables, is available in HTML and PDF formats. This reference work provides a comprehensive analysis of R&D in the President's budget for FY 2006, including specialized analyses by theme, major agency, and discipline. A 12-page summary containing highlights from this book is available (below), along with detailed supplemental information. For more information on R&D in the FY 2006 budget, see below.

March 22 (revised) - AAAS Analysis of R&D in the FY 2006 Budget

"R&D Programs Face Another Rough Year in 2006;
Cuts for Many, Gains for Space and Homeland Security" (HTML)

(PDF version - 12 pp)

This analysis is a preview of AAAS Report XXX: R&D FY 2006 (above), a comprehensive look at the President's budget for R&D in FY 2006. All figures in this analysis are revised estimates of R&D in the FY 2006 budget, different from figures in the preliminary analysis of February 10 and revised since a March 9 release. Supplemental information on R&D in the FY 2006 budget is available below; individual agency updates and additional tables and charts have been added. For information on R&D in the current fiscal year (FY 2005), go to the FY 2005 R&D page.

-Table 1. R&D in the FY 2006 Budget by Agency
-Table 2. Research in the FY 2006 Budget
-Table 3. R&D by Appropriations Subcommittee (new structure)
-Table 4. Homeland Security R&D by Agency
-Table 5. Interagency Science and Technology Initiatives

Updated links to agency FY 2006 budget documents